Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-05-13
STEEL GUNS FOR THE NAVY.
The New Factory at Washington VIII
Turn Them Out In Great GUAM
titles.

4 TURN Ihem out IN eTcnt Quau-
| titles.
The conversion of the Washington
Navy-Yard into great ordnance foun-
drv for the manufacture of steel guns
for the navy is a matter of great import
ance TO the citizens Of Washington on
account of the employment it will furn-
ish TO large army OF mechan cs and
| laborers The board OF naval officers
appointed TO inspect the yard made
the + report some time ago. and as soon
as the Secretary has decided upon the
best course to pursuein regard to the
alteration of buildings and the procur-
ing of the necessary plant of tools and
machinery, work will be commenced
and push ed forward as rapidly as
possible.
1t is the pur pose of the department
to establish foundry capable of turn
ing out about forty complete large-cal-
iber guns every year. with their carr ag-
es and all accessories. and at the same
time keep up the supply of all ordnance
stores for the vessels in commission.
Tn viii involve, it is estimated, the
employment of from 500 to 1000 men.
with payroll amounting TO more than
$50. 600 per month.
At the time the yard was changed
from general navy yard into a gun
foundry the large number of men en-
plo Ell under the other bureaus were
discharged. As a rule these men We're
very competent, skilled workmen, and
when work is finally commenced on a
larger scale in the gun foundry most of
those who desire employment in the
ward will be taken back. The Secreta-
ar of the Navy told them at the time of
Their discharge that as soon As work
was commenced, other things being
equal they would be employed in pref
erence To new men.
At present the limited force mploy-
ed in the yard is engaged in fin shing
up the guns now under way and in
keeping up the regular supply of ord
nance material and it j. probable that
the force will gradually be reduced Sill
further until the first de- very OF eel
under the new contracts begins. Nn'n
that will be it is impossible to state, Is
the contracts have not yet been let and
the first del very is not required under
them until six months from the date on
winch they are let. IT, however, the
Seer, tary decides on making part of
the plant for the large-sIzed guns in the
ward, the reduction in force IL not be
necessary, but the men will be set to
! work manufacturing the enormous
steam hammer. lathes and planning ma
chimes necessary for the construction
of the heavy gus.
A. it is est mated that two years
time would be requ red TO build
the plant. if it is all built at the wash
ington yard, it is probable that the
work VIII be divided and some of it
f: let out to private parties. SO "a to expe-
+ dite its completion. In the meantime
! there will be large amount of ron
a work required about h proposed new
buildings. VIII ch furnish work for some
; of the men, and a. soon AS the deliv-
cries of steel for six-inch guns begins
! under the contracts of work on their
their construction will be resumed at
once, and with the present plant will
be gradually increasing and BY the
time the material OF heavy guns is
ready for delivery 1t will probably be
, possible to begin work on them.
I'VE are present. said Commander
g Mccormack, inspector of Ordnance at
, the yard. engaged in finishing mp the
guns under way. winch are all that
we have material for at present"
What are the largest guns you have
on hands," asked the reporter.
1--WE are now building two ten-inch
guns weighing 60, pounds each for
the Miantonomah. One of these is
nearly completed, aud the other is
well under way. Next in size is AZ
S-inch gun for the Boston. which will
complete her armament 1t is about
finished now, and will be sent to the
naval proving ground at Annapolis
for trial in about month For the
Chicago we have two 6-innch guns I'M
der way We are also bu ldng four 81
inch howitzers for the state of New
jersey and two for Connecticut.
is there any other work going on
n the yards?'
~ Is; many persons are under the
erroneous impression that the only
work done here is the construction of
big guns, but we are BRING NJ along the
| secondary battery of the Boston, to-
gether with the ordnance equipment
of that sh p. including shells. We are
also getting ready the equipment of the
Chicago in part and Keeping up the
regular supply of ordnance equipments
for the ships now in comm .sson. -
Washington Post.
As Good as a Dividend